CHARACTERISTICS OF RECIPIENTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL-SECURITY-INCOME (SSI) BENEFITS FOR DRUG-ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS

This study examined symptom severity and level of functioning in recip ients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for drug addicts and alcoholics (DA&A). Although substantial numbers of substance abuse rs received these benefits until the program was canceled in 1997, Lit tle information has been available on the characteristics of these ind ividuals. Approximately 2500 SSI DA&A recipients were assessed at the point in which they were to be referred for treatment services. Result s indicated that in addition to long histories of alcohol abuse and re cent problems with employment, these DA&A recipients were characterize d by high levels of medical and psychiatric problems. Problem severiti es in these latter two areas were found to be consistently high across several subgroupings of recipients, including those who reported no a lcohol or drug use in the prior 30 days. These findings suggest that S SI DA&A recipients are often significantly impaired beyond their alcoh ol and drug use.